The Oleander Sword (The Burning Kingdoms, #2)

by Tasha Suri

“The Parijatdvipans think they know what it means to sacrifice,” she went on. “Grand gestures of self-destruction, they think. They glorify it. But it’s not so. The slow way, fighting even when you know it may have no worth… that is sacrifice.” She thought of all her people in the mahal. And thought of Padma, laughing, Bhumika’s heart clutched in her perfect, tiny fists. Felt her heart turn and break, as she said, “And this? This is freedom. This is escape.”